- Last Updated on Saturday, 30 June 2018 10:12
The people of the mid-Monongahela Valley are known for their compassion and giving sprit. Many people give the ultimate gift of life by registering to become organ donors.
Louis J. Panza Jr., president and CEO of Monongahela Valley Hospital signs the vial that will represent the Hospital and the Mon Valley community in the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade. |
As of August 2017, 116,000 men, women and children were on the national transplant waiting list. In addition, every 10 minutes another person is added to the waiting list. Each year, the number of people on the list continues to be much larger than both number of donors and the transplants. One donor can save eight lives
Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of 58 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations in the United States. With its headquarters in Pittsburgh, CORE oversees a region that encompasses 150 hospitals and more than 5 million people throughout western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County, NY. Monongahela Valley Hospital and each of the other hospital’s in CORE’s service area act as referral sites for procurement donors.
To raise awareness for organ donation, CORE will have a “Donate Life” float in the nationally televised 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade and a piece of the Mon Valley will be on the float. On Jan. 1, 2019, as the float passes along the streets of Pasadena, Ca., a vial holding one of the fragrant roses that comprises the CORE float will bear the name of Monongahela Valley Hospital. On May 29, 2018, Louis J. Panza Jr. signed the vial and sent it to the CORE headquarters for inclusion in the parade.
“Monongahela Valley Hospital is honored to again represent this region on the CORE float in the Tournament of Roses Parade,” said Mr. Panza. “The theme for the upcoming parade is appropriately titled “The Melody of Life” and this is an excellent means to reach a broad audience with the simple message that organ, tissue and cornea donation saves and heals lives.”
For more information about organ, tissue and cornea donation call Lisa Hruby, assistant vice president of Nursing, at Monongahela Valley Hospital,at 724-258-1213 or contact CORE at 800-DONORS-7 (800-366-6777).